- stock paste is usually fine. Changing it will barely make any difference in most cases. When it does, the problem was most likely somewhere else, like incorrect application, badly seated heatsink, etc.
- Those are useless. Raising the back of the laptop 1cm from the table has the same effect. Just do that instead using hard foam tape, rubber feet or something like that.
- You have to try it yourself since every single chip comes out different from the factory. It's easy to do, don't worry about it.
- Yes, but it requires a lot more time, patience and trial and error. Totally worth it though. Free performance gains.
- m.2 as the system drive and an hdd/ssd for everything else is how I would have it.
